by Penny Lynch
In a world where everyone seems to be rushing from one task to the next, it’s easy to underestimate the quiet power of kindness. But small acts of kindness, holding the door open, checking in on a neighbour, offering a genuine compliment, can ripple out far beyond the moment.
Being kind doesn’t require grand gestures or big speeches. It can be as simple as letting someone go ahead of you in a queue or sending a quick text to say you’re thinking of them. And the beautiful thing is, kindness not only helps the person receiving it, it also boosts the mood and wellbeing of the person offering it.
Science backs this up. A 2020 study from the University of Oxford found that people who performed daily acts of kindness for just seven days reported a noticeable increase in life satisfaction. Even better, the more acts of kindness they did, the better they felt.
Another study showed that spending money on others, whether buying a coffee or giving to charity, leads to greater happiness than spending the same amount on yourself.
Why is that? It turns out that kindness activates areas of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust. It releases oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone” which helps lower blood pressure and improve heart health. In other words, kindness is good for your heart in every sense.
Every year on February 17th, the world marks Random Acts of Kindness Day, a gentle reminder that small, thoughtful gestures really do make a difference. But what if we took it a step further? What if Cranleigh and the surrounding villages celebrated a Random Acts of Kindness Month? Imagine the impact if, for one month, we all made a conscious effort to do something kind each day, however small, and noticed how it made us feel. A wave of little kindnesses could bring surprising warmth and connection through our community.
Kindness tends to multiply. When someone experiences a kind act, they’re more likely to pass it on. One good deed can set off a chain reaction, like sunshine breaking through a cloudy day.
So, whether it’s giving someone your full attention, sharing your umbrella, or simply offering a smile (yes, those count too!), never underestimate the effect your kindness can have. You may never know how much it meant but it always matters.
Let’s give it a try and see how we all feel by the end of the month.
